Sports round-up from across north Antrim

HURLING

Success for Cross and Passion College

Cross and Passion recently held a whole school assembly to celebrate the many successes achieved since September. Just before the Halloween break the hurlers secured a magnificent double of Ulster Titles with the Year 9 team winning the McNamee Cup against St. Killian’s while the Seniors beat St. Pat’s Maghera to win the Mageean title for the first time in 4 years.

This was a fantastic achievement and a night to remember at The Dub in Belfast for players, mentors and supporters alike.

The Mageean team will now be preparing diligently for their All-Ireland semi final in March as they go in search of another O’Keefe Cup – last won by the school in 2010.

RUGBY

Dalriada School in Cup

Dalriada School will enter the Danske Bank Schools’ Cup in the second round which will be played on Saturday January 25.

CYCLING

Baird wants Giro d’Italia race to boost area

Moyle councillor Joan Baird has asked Moyle Council to do all it can to promote the Giro d’Italia cycle race coming to the area next year.

She tabled a motion “that Moyle District Council invites representatives from the Giro D’Italia and NI Tourist Board and asks that they share their expertise and proposals for this International event with Members.

“The Giro D’Italia will be travelling through our district and we should hear about its route, the organisation attached to the event and the way in which we should benefit from this important occasion.

“This event should give a strong boost to our local tourism and showcase Moyle at international level. Councillors must ensure that a holistic approach is taken to an event which will profile us on the international market.

“Event organisers have local connections have local connections through an Irish Senior record holder and Ulster Veterans Champion who lives locally.

“The information event should provide an excellent marketing opportunity for Moyle District Council,” said the councillor.

HURLING

Blaney hopes for tourism spin-off from GAA

A Ballycastle councillor hopes there can be a tourism boost on the back of County Antrim hurling matches being temporarily held in the town.

Antrim will play at the Ballycastle McQuillans’ pitch because their usual venue of Casement Park in Belfast is being upgraded.

And Antrim are set to meet teams like Cork and Wexford with some of the matches falling on key tourism dates like Valentine’s weekend and the St Patrick’s weekend.

Independent councillor Seamus Blaney said the arrival of the games in Ballycastle is a boost not just for the town but for the whole area.

He urged tourism staff at Moyle Council to try to ensure the area can benefit from an upsurge of visitors and he thought the two games against Cork and Wexford could attract a combined crowd of perhaps 16,000.

Moyle Council Chairperson, Cllr Cara McShane (Sinn Fein), agreed that the selection of Ballycastle to host the Antrim hurling games was a “massive boost”.

She said it was a “great indictment for the Ballycastle GAA club”.

Meanwhile, Councillor McShane will hold a special ‘Night of Heroes’ type event for successful GAA clubs and members and hopes to have a GAA star in attendance.

Cllr Padraig McShane (Independent) said the McQuillans Under-16 team which had a “100 per cent record” should be invited to the event.

BOWLS

The Friendly Charity Bowling League

Club Played Points

Bushvale 7 36

Bushmills Pres 5 29.5

Billy 7 27.5

Toberdoney 6 24

Ballyweaney 5 18.5

St James 7 16.5

St Olcans 6 15.5

Cushendall 6 14.5

St Patricks 6 14

Glebe Trophy

Club Played Points

Billy 4 23

Toberdoney 5 22

Bushmills Pres 4 19.5

Ramoan 4 19.5

St Olcans 4 17

Bushvale 4 16

Cushendall 5 10.5

St James 4 8.5

Ballyweaney 4 7

St Patricks 4 4

rugby

Ballymoney R.F.C. to hold their first all girls youth blitz tournament.

Ballymoney R.F.C. will provide the facilities to host the second in a series of girls rugby youth blitz tournaments this Sunday, 08th December, at 12:00 noon, to cater for the rising popularity in the uptake of the sport, by young females, throughout the province of Ulster.

Organised in conjunction with, and at the behest of, Ulster Rugby’s Youth Development Division, team members from Ards, Ballymoney, Ballynahinch, Banbridge, Dromore, Bangor, Malone and Harlequins girls youth teams are expected to participate.

Although a lot of the emphasis of these tournaments is with respect to participation and enjoyment, it will give an opportunity for the girls to put into practice some of the skills they have been developing over the past number of months, during their training sessions, and will allow them to realise their own competitive streak.

Girls youth rugby is currently played at U15 and U18 level, with 17 clubs in Ulster having dedicated youth sections for females.

Full contact is introduced by clubs in a safe environment, and there are many opportunities for girls to progress within the contact game, as interest in the female version has had somewhat of a gathering pace of participation and investment throughout the world in recent years.

There are also Regional Development Squads that are made up of the most talented players from across Ulster, who then play a series of matches against girls from Leinster, Munster and Connacht.

With the current success of the Ireland Women’s team there are also realistic opportunities for those with the ability to compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics where women’s 7-a-side rugby has been included for the first time.

darts

Ballymoney League

Results for week 7

Joeys Bar 3 v Bush House rearranged match

Joeys Flights v MaKellys 6_0

Kellys Own v Blackwater House 3_3

Diamond Bar v Joeys Bar 4_2

Royal British Legion Bye

High Scores

G McAuley 140-105 G Dunlop 4x180-5x100 C Rooney 100-132 D Neill 125-100 A Neill 2x100-107-140

R Murphy 180-100 J Ferguson 100 W Sharp 100 S Rouke 2x100 K Reilly 2x100-116-105 C Harvey 140-125-100 A Archibold 3x100-180-140 T McDonald 2x100-2x140 J Patton 7x100 C McCaw 3x100-121

M Hamilton 2x140 B Nelson 121 T McCook 3x100 G Small 3x100-145 J Stewart 132-100 S Walker 135

L Flemming 2x100 A McIllhatton 5x100 R Maddison 2x140-2x100-2x125 P McIlvenna 140

S Moore 2x140-2x137-180-123-100 J McClenaghan 3x100 D Graham 121-100 B Gillen 4x100-140

J McMullan 140-100 D Woods 3x100

Fixtures for Friday 6-12-13 are in the J McVickers Cup to be played in the Blackwater House in Dervock all players are asked to register for 8-45pm for darts to start at 9-00pm sharp

Team Captains please note there is a league meeting on wed 4-12-13 in the Royal British Legion at 8-30pm

SNOOKER

Rafters’ Charity Shield

Dylan Murray and Derek Patton were drawn to play one frame decider for the match

Charity Shield Final At Rafters Snooker Club

The annual charity shield final within Rafters snooker League was played last wednesday 27th November.

Eight teams within the league entered the competition

making it to the final were last years winners The Untouchables playing The All Stars

All Stars captain Lee Gibson selected 4 players from his team of 6 players. Dylan Murray, Billy Moore, Peter Roulston & Alan Mc Donald.

Untouchables captain Derek Patton played himself along with Shaw Williamson ,David Louden & Mick Baird.

each player from each team played two fames each with one point awarded per winning frame

first team to get five points decided the winner

players played off league handicapps.

the draw was made and scores as below

ALL STARS FRAME 1 FRAME 2 UNTOUCHABLES

S/C DYLAN 51/64 78/53 +15 DEREK

+20 BILLY 41/48 47/61 +25 SHAW

+15 PETER 48/38 68/21 +20 DAVID

+10 ALAN 80/67 59/75 +40 MICK

with the score going to four frames to each team a one frame decider had to be played to decide winner

Dylan Murray from the All Stars was drawn out to play Derek Patton from the Untouchables

Dylan could not get a break going just managing to score 6 points. Derek satrting with 15 points advantage potted some great balls scoring 86 points taking his team to victory for the second year in a row.

Lee Gibson was dissapointed as his team were winning 4-1 before Derek’s team levelled it to 4-4 forcing play-off.

Lee congratulated Derek and his team on their win